WHITE PAPER
Formlabs Logo

Troubleshooting connectivity on a Formlabs SLA printer

Troubleshooting connectivity on a Formlabs SLA printer

Networking issues can be challenging to troubleshoot. Each network is different, with its own configuration, firewall settings, VPNs, password and security options, anti-virus software settings, and restrictions.

If you are experiencing connectivity issues when trying to send print jobs to your printer, follow these steps first:

  1. Check that the printer and the computer running PreForm are on the same network.
  2. Select Show All in the Choose Printer menu in PreForm, in case your filter selections prevent your printer from being visible.
  3. Non-dental/medical printers, such as the Form 3, Form 3L, Form 4, and Form 4L, are only visible in the Standard Workspace. If you are using one of these printers, click View > Choose Workspace and select Standard Workspace.
  4. Ensure that PreForm is up to date.
  5. Check for firmware updates via your printer’s touchscreen and update if needed.
  6. Power cycle the printer.
  7. On the printer touchscreen, tap Settings > Connectivity to check the printer's IP address, and add it to PreForm manually.
  8. Try connecting to PreForm with a different computer.
  9. Check with your IT department, if applicable, to confirm the configuration of your network and any settings that may be interfering with connecting and detecting the printer:
    • Firewalls
    • VPNs
    • Filtering and whitelists
    • Password and security configurations

Troubleshooting Wi-Fi connectivity

  1. Windows

    1. Go to Start > Command Prompt to open a Command Prompt window.
    2. In the command-line, type ping followed by the printer's IP address and hit enter.

  1. MacOS

    1. Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal to open a Terminal window.
    2. In the command-line, type ping followed by the printer's IP address and hit enter.

Tip:

To disconnect from a wireless network, tap Settings > Connectivity > Wi-Fi. Tap the connected network, then tap Disconnect. The printer disconnects from the network.

On Form 4 and Form 4L generation printers, tap Settings > Connectivity > Wi-Fi. Tap the connected network, then tap Forget Network. The printer disconnects from the network and you will need to re-enter the network password to reconnect in the future.

Troubleshooting Ethernet connections

  1. Windows

    1. Go to Start > Command Prompt to open a Command Prompt window.
    2. In the command-line, type ping followed by the printer's IP address and hit enter.

  1. MacOS

    1. Go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal to open a Terminal window.
    2. In the command-line, type ping followed by the printer's IP address and hit enter.

Form Auto

The Form Auto has an integrated Ethernet port that serves as a passthrough to the printer’s Ethernet port. If you are having trouble connecting to a Form Auto over Ethernet:

  1. Disconnect the Form Auto’s integrated Ethernet cable from the mounted printer.
  2. Connect directly to the printer via Ethernet.
  3. If you still cannot connect to the printer, follow the general Ethernet troubleshooting instructions above.
  4. If you can connect to the printer directly, continue.
  5. Try connecting a different Ethernet cable to the Form Auto.
  6. Replace the Form Auto’s Ethernet port. Follow the instructions in the guide Replacing the Form Auto Ethernet port [EN] [DE] [ES] [FR] [IT] [JA] [ZH]. Replacement Form Auto Ethernet ports are available for purchase on the Formlabs Store.

Troubleshooting USB connections

  1. Windows

    Go to Control Panel > System and Security > System > Device Manager. The printer should appear under Universal Serial Bus devices.

    Note:

    If the computer is running Windows 7 and cannot connect to a printer via USB, download the USB drivers for PreForm.

  1. MacOS

    Go to Applications > Utilities > System Information. The printer should appear under USB.

Submitting a support request

Before submitting a support request to Formlabs Support or your authorized reseller, please provide the following information to help us process your request as quickly as possible:

  • Windows

    1. Open the Control Panel.
    2. Click System and Security.
    3. Click System. Your Windows version is listed under the Windows edition section.

  • MacOS

    Go to the Apple menu in the corner of your screen and click About This Mac. The macOS name is displayed, followed by its version number.